International Girls in ICT Day 2023; April 27th.

FORUM: "Digital Skills for Life." International Girls in ICT Day 2023. 

This year and every year, ITU and partners work together to inspire and encourage girls to pursue a future in ICTs towards bridging the gender digital divide. The aim is to encourage young women and girls to pursue their studies and careers in science, engineering, technology, mathematics, and other fields and help them achieve their dreams. Follow the conversations with the hashtags:#GirlsinICT, #27April, #DigitalSkillsforLife.

We focus on the power of #DigitalSkillsForLife to transform lives and communities. Stay tuned for updates on how you can get involved, let's empower the next generation of female tech leaders?

                   

EVENTS: The global 2023 Girls in ICT event will be celebrated on 27 April in Zimbabwe as part of the Transform Africa Summit 2023, in coordination and collaboration with the Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) and Smart Africa.

The global celebration will include a series of events that will run during the day as part of the summit and will address different topics related to Digital Skills i.e., role models, education, mentorship, and youth participation. The events build onto the various initiatives of the ITU that not only seek to achieve digital gender equality but also would address the importance of education and connectivity.

OUTCOMES: Girls in ICT Day provides an opportunity for girls and young women to see and be exposed to the benefit of ICT in enabling their career and aspiration. Girls in ICT Day is now a global movement, with ITU partners and other organizations conducting their own events and celebrations on the Girls in ICT Day and throughout the year.

Programme Agenda

Program Director: Sibonginkosi Muteyiwa

12:30 – 12:35 - Introduction and setting the scene.
Sicelo Dube & Tutsi Jenje, STEM Ambassadors


12:35-12:40 - Fireside starter

Ruth Nibitanga, Inspirational speaker, participant from the ITU-EIF project “Tech as a Driver of Women’s Economic Opportunity” in Burundi


12:40 – 12:50 - Opening Ceremony 

• Welcoming remarks by ITU BDT Director, Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava
• Keynote Speech by ITU Secretary General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin
• Remarks by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, H.E. Dr. Evelyn Ndlovu (MP), Zimbabwe
• Remarks by the Minister of Innovation and Technology, Postal and Courier Services, H.E. Dr. Jenfan Muswere (MP), Zimbabwe

12:50 – 13:05 - Inter- Generational Dialogue and Open Discussion

The dialogue will share experiences and inspire the young girls to share their stories in respect to challenges, opportunities, and prospects for careers in the field of STEM.

• Khanimnisa Ismayilova, Generation Connect Youth Envoy, Azerbaijan
• Tsedeniya Namrud Abebe, Head of Digital Capacity Building and Public Engagement Unit, Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Ethiopia
• Digital Opportunity Trust (Joining remotely)
• Winner of the competition
• MTN Group

13:10 – 13:20 - Highlights: Awards session

13:20 – 13:30 - Closing Remarks Antonio Pedro,
Acting Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) (Joining remotely)
SMART AFRICA.

Ressources of the International Girls in ICT Day 2023.

• Inter- Generational Dialogue and Open Discussion
• ITU Regional Events
• Speeches and Messages
• TOOLKIT: Organizing a Girls in ICT event
• Social Media Pack
• Girls in ICT Events Worldwide